Start with three official sources before making an offer on a Staten Island home. The Office of the Richmond County Clerk holds recorded real property documents. The NYC Department of Buildings has building records. The city’s ZoLa map shows zoning. Then take what you find, and what you could not find, to your attorney and title company.
This article is general information. It is not legal advice.
Which official offices hold Staten Island property records?
The office depends on the type of record you need.
| What you want to learn | Where to start | What it cannot settle alone |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded documents such as deeds and mortgages | Office of the Richmond County Clerk, which serves as Staten Island’s County Register | Whether title is clear. That is a job for a title company and attorney |
| Permits, job filings, complaints and violations | NYC Department of Buildings: Building Information Search (BIS) and DOB NOW | Whether the current use or every past alteration is lawful |
| Certificate of Occupancy on file | DOB Certificate of Occupancy information, which explains the BIS and DOB NOW search routes | How the CO applies to your purchase |
| Zoning district and land use context | ZoLa, NYC’s Zoning & Land Use Map | What can be built or changed on a specific lot |
How does ACRIS differ from Staten Island recorded-document research?
ACRIS is the Department of Finance’s Automated City Register Information System. DOF says it lets you search property records and view document images for Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn from 1966 to the present. Staten Island is not on that list. Its recorded real property documents are handled by the Office of the Richmond County Clerk.
DOF also says transfer tax returns for Staten Island properties are filed through ACRIS, with a paper filing also required. Filing a tax return is not the same as searching recorded documents, so don’t treat ACRIS as a Staten Island deed search.
How do you contact the Richmond County Clerk?
The clerk’s website describes the office as Richmond County’s chief recording officer and official records repository, including for real property matters. Its posted contact details are:
- 130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301
- (718) 675-7700
- Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; closed on observed holidays
The site says it is being overhauled. Check the homepage for current options before you visit or call, and ask staff how to request the documents you need.
How do you search NYC building records for a Staten Island address?
In BIS, select Staten Island and search by house number and street, or by block and lot. Results can list applications, permits, complaints and violations. Record what you find in your notes.
Keep in mind:
- DOB NOW is separate. BIS says its search does not include filings submitted in DOB NOW. Search the DOB NOW Public Portal too.
- Some records may be missing. BIS says it does not show some transactions from April 29 to May 6, 2022, plus some earlier ones, because of a data-center outage.
- A record is not a verdict. An open item or a missing permit is a question for your attorney or a licensed professional. Don’t draw your own conclusion about it.
What should you ask after reviewing the records?
Use this worksheet to organize what you checked and what still needs an answer.
| Item | Source checked | What you found | Question for attorney, title company or agent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded deed and other recorded documents | Richmond County Clerk | ||
| Open permits or applications | BIS and DOB NOW | ||
| Complaints or violations | BIS | ||
| Certificate of Occupancy on file | BIS / DOB | ||
| Zoning district shown | ZoLa | ||
| Anything you could not find |
Write down what each source actually showed. Don’t fill in what you expected it to show.
How can a buyer’s agent help with the research?
Ask your buyer’s agent which research questions they can help organize and which need another professional’s review. PreReal™ Prendamano Real Estate offers exclusive buyer agent representation in Staten Island. You can also browse Staten Island residential homes for sale.
What else do buyers ask about official property records?
Can I use ACRIS to search Staten Island deeds?
No. The NYC Department of Finance says ACRIS record search and document images cover Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn. For recorded Staten Island documents, start with the Office of the Richmond County Clerk.
Where is the Richmond County Clerk’s office?
The office is at 130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301. Its posted phone number is (718) 675-7700, and its posted hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding observed holidays. Check the clerk’s website before you visit, because the site says it is being overhauled.
Does a DOB record tell me whether a home’s current use is legal?
Not by itself. A DOB search shows records the department holds, such as permits, applications, complaints and violations. Whether the current use matches what the records allow is a question for your attorney, and possibly a licensed architect or engineer.
Why might a DOB search show nothing for recent work?
The BIS search page says it does not include filings submitted in DOB NOW, which has its own public portal. It also notes that some 2022 transactions may not appear because of a data-center outage. Search both systems before deciding that no record exists.
What does a Certificate of Occupancy state?
The Department of Buildings says a Certificate of Occupancy states a building’s legal use and/or type of permitted occupancy. If you can’t find a CO, or the one on file seems not to match the home as it stands, write that down as an open question. Ask your attorney or a licensed architect or engineer what it means for the purchase.
Can a zoning map tell me what I can build?
ZoLa is the Department of City Planning’s map for viewing zoning and land use information. A map view is a starting point, not a decision about what a particular lot allows. Ask a licensed professional to review any construction or use plans.
Who should review what I find before I make an offer?
Your real estate attorney and title company should review records tied to ownership, liens and title. Your buyer’s agent can help you keep the questions organized. Ask each of them which records they want to see.
Questions about a Staten Island property? Contact PreReal™ Prendamano Real Estate at 7448 Amboy Road, Staten Island, NY 10307, or call 718-200-7799.
Equal Housing Opportunity. PreReal™ Prendamano Real Estate, 7448 Amboy Road, Staten Island, NY 10307, 718-200-7799.
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